beliefs of a UU

These aren’t sacrosanct although many UUs tend to recite them as though they should be upheld as so. What I love about the UU principles is that they are vague and ambiguous enough that they can be interpreted in a number of ways… (for the most part), and can still give guidance to the seasoned as well as novice spiritual seeker.

Below the UU principles is a list of where we find teachings as a moral compass.

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There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote:

The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;

Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;

A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;

The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;

The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;

Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Unitarian Universalism (UU) draws from many sources:

Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;

Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;

Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;

Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;

Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.

Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

I was raised a UU in California and mostly everyone was athiest or didn’t care about that stuff. Many of them thought you were an idiot if you believed in God. They worshiped liberal activism. The evil ones were the conservatives.

For me it became a problem because I did have profound experiences of what I call God through my “quiet time” in nature. I had to keep it secret. I felt like an apostate when I broke away and choose to believe in God.

I like what UU could be. It could be very open and searching. However the reality is that there are definate belief systems in UU and if you step out of them you are bad and/or an idiot. It is not even acknowledged that there is dogma, because it is really a bad word. But truly there is. You just have to look with an open mind.

from The Age of Reason

I believe in one God and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life. I believe the equality of man, and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavouring to make our fellow-creatures happy. ~ Thomas Paine, 1794